Disclaimer: Welcome to the realm of FanFiction!
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The King announced the betrothal a day after the Lamaran envoy had negotiated it. All of the courtiers who had been able to attend were in court. The King was seated at the High Table, the Queen on his left and the envoy on his right. His daughters sat to his left and the Heir sat to the Right.
An expectant hush fell over the aristocrats when the King stood up. He cleared his throat softly and then began to speak.
"I am quite pleased," he started, "To announce that my daughter Princess Selena of Wythin has been betrothed to Crown Prince Alejandro of Lamar." The King stood a little straighter as he heard their whisperings hum around the room. "Silence!" He commanded. "Many of you wonder, I realize, why I did not betroth my elder daughter Princess Mirian to Crown Prince Alejandro. There is an explanation for all things, but you are not ready to hear it. Think of it, my friends, as that she is already promised to someone." The murmurings flew around the rooms again. "Silence please. You may ponder this out of my sight and hearing. Now," The King smiled, "For the dancing."
This ploy thoroughly distracted all of the courtiers and they obediently got up to dance.
The King turned to Mirian, who was staring at him inquisitively. He chuckled to himself and shook his head. She had asked him every year since her fifteenth name day when she would be betrothed. He had always answered, in time. Now she had more of an answer, but not the full thing.
Mirian tried to get her father's attention, but he was busy talking in hushed tones with the envoy and the Queen. She wondered who she was 'promised' to. Seeing that her attempt to get her father's attention was proving fruitless, she turned to her sister.
"Lena, are you happy to be betrothed?" her voice was quiet, but her sister heard her perfectly.
"I-I guess so. I would much rather it be you, my sister." Selena loved her sister with all her heart, and knew her just as well. She knew that her sister was deeply hurt by her father's announcement. "I will only just have turned five-and-ten, and you would be turning nine-and-ten two months after that."
"I know, Lena, I know." Mirian smiled, "Here is Lord Bran to ask you for one last dance before you are married." Her sister smiled. Mirian's smile grew bigger, "Be happy, sister."
"And you," returned Selena as she walked away with the young Lord Bran.
Mirian watched as her sister danced with al of the young men in turn. She listened half-heartedly to the orchestra playing. Her fingers idly twirled a piece of hair between them.
"Why are you not dancing, daughter?" The Queen looked fondly at her daughter.
"I don't know Mother, I suppose I just don't feel like it." She gave a small smile to her mother.
"Ah, I see, no one has asked you to dance, have they?" The Queen smiled knowingly at her eldest daughter. She knew that Mirian had never been lacking in partners before this night.
"No," sighed Mirian, her grey eyes closing.
"My daughter, you must not always think of marriage and such things. It may consume you if you are not careful." The Queen patted her daughter's small, delicate hand. "Marriage is not everything. Think of how skilled you are with the needle, and how well you handle the horses that we have. Think of the garden that you and Selena grow. Is that not important as well?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so." The Princess cast her eyes down in shame.
"Mirian, love, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You have been reading too many of the romantic novels." Mirian blushed slightly, and Shari laughed. "Do those girls ever think of anything but marriage? No, they don't. They are not real, my daughter, they are fantasy. You are real. A good Queen thinks of her people."
"But I thought that a King did that." Mirian interjected.
"True, a King does too, but the Queen is his support, you must remember. Think on this: what would you think about after marriage? Mirian, use your skills, and develop them. Do not let them go to waste."
"Yes mother, I love you." The Princess looked into her mother's clear blue eyes, and she knew that her mother loved her too.
"Now, I must rip your father away from this envoy." Shari turned to her husband, "My love, dance with me."
The envoy grinned and waved the King away. Mirian looked over the envoy's shoulder and saw her brother slipping away in the direction of Lady Petra.
"Your highness, a word?" Mirian turned to the envoy.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I may have this dance," he said gallantly.
The Princess's cheeks were suffused with color, and she happily accepted his offer. They descended from the High Table regally.
He was resplendent in the red and blue of Lamar, she equally so in the lavender and black of Wythin.
They waltzed around the room, hand in hand. Eventually, the song came to an end and they wandered over to the table where refreshments were offered. Shyly, they talked together, while sipping wine out of ornate goblets.
"I wondered why you weren't married already, Princess." Mirian looked at him sharply.
"I have often wondered the same thing myself," She responded lightly. The envoy laughed.
They continued talking until the music stopped.
Selena smiled at her latest partner. She was enjoying the last vestiges of her freedom as an unmarried Princess. Her beautiful gown swirled around her ankles in an unexpected draft, tripping her. Her partner caught her easily, and set her on her feet again.
"Thank you," Selena was breathless from dancing, and her words came out breathily. Her partner smiled graciously and they started to resume dancing, but found that there was no music to dance to.
Michel smiled at Lady Petra. She was his friend since childhood. She understood him. They waltzed through the deserted gardens, straining to hear the faint music.
Without warning, Michel was supporting Petra's whole weight. He sagged, then straightened. He set her gently on a stone bench and checked her heartbeat. It was still there and strong. She wasn't dead, but she was unconscious. Michel stood and looked for the attacker. No one was to be seen.
There was only silence.
The King knew the exact moment the music stopped. He sighed. How ironic, he thought, that he would lose both daughters in such quick succession.
"What is going on?" Shari clung tighter to him. She was afraid, he could tell.
"Do not fear my love, all will be well in the end." He spoke comforting words as he stroked her golden hair. "Go collect Selena and the other Ladies and get to a private room. Make sure you are safe." The King pushed her away.
"No, please no," Shari clung to him, but he gently pushed her off.
"Go, my love, and Sky be with you."
"I love you always." Shari kissed him passionately and then raised an arm. "To me, my Ladies! To me!" The Ladies of the court obediently came to the Queen's call. She ushered them out of the great hall and into her own chambers.
"Why are we here?"
"What's going on?"
"Why did the music stop?"
"Where's Petra?"
"Where's Princess Mirian?"
The questions flew about the chamber. The last one sent Shari into motion.
"Selena, Mirian, please, come hither." Selena obediently came to the Queen's side, but Mirian was nowhere to be found. "Mirian!" Shari moaned, wide eyed, "Why are you not here?" Shari tried to leave the room, but two guards blocked her progress.
"No, my Queen, the King has ordered you not to leave this room. You will be safe here." Shari turned back into the room in defeat. She sat on her bed and wept.
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---A/N--- This chapter was a bit longer, I think. Although it was a cliff ::snickers evilly:: I promise more will be up soon. I've been busy freezing myself at marching band.
---MapleRose-I made up Kalid-Na'in. Microsoft Word hates me now...but heehee:o)
---cherrychica-It's a loose sequel to Runner of Syrlan. Really loose. It's on the same continent as Syrlan, and it borders Syrlan. It's also set paralell to the end of it. That's about it. I'm working on Shadeth and her story.
I need a new title!!! Does anyone have a better idea? Suggestions!!!!! :o)
---EvenSong---
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The King announced the betrothal a day after the Lamaran envoy had negotiated it. All of the courtiers who had been able to attend were in court. The King was seated at the High Table, the Queen on his left and the envoy on his right. His daughters sat to his left and the Heir sat to the Right.
An expectant hush fell over the aristocrats when the King stood up. He cleared his throat softly and then began to speak.
"I am quite pleased," he started, "To announce that my daughter Princess Selena of Wythin has been betrothed to Crown Prince Alejandro of Lamar." The King stood a little straighter as he heard their whisperings hum around the room. "Silence!" He commanded. "Many of you wonder, I realize, why I did not betroth my elder daughter Princess Mirian to Crown Prince Alejandro. There is an explanation for all things, but you are not ready to hear it. Think of it, my friends, as that she is already promised to someone." The murmurings flew around the rooms again. "Silence please. You may ponder this out of my sight and hearing. Now," The King smiled, "For the dancing."
This ploy thoroughly distracted all of the courtiers and they obediently got up to dance.
The King turned to Mirian, who was staring at him inquisitively. He chuckled to himself and shook his head. She had asked him every year since her fifteenth name day when she would be betrothed. He had always answered, in time. Now she had more of an answer, but not the full thing.
Mirian tried to get her father's attention, but he was busy talking in hushed tones with the envoy and the Queen. She wondered who she was 'promised' to. Seeing that her attempt to get her father's attention was proving fruitless, she turned to her sister.
"Lena, are you happy to be betrothed?" her voice was quiet, but her sister heard her perfectly.
"I-I guess so. I would much rather it be you, my sister." Selena loved her sister with all her heart, and knew her just as well. She knew that her sister was deeply hurt by her father's announcement. "I will only just have turned five-and-ten, and you would be turning nine-and-ten two months after that."
"I know, Lena, I know." Mirian smiled, "Here is Lord Bran to ask you for one last dance before you are married." Her sister smiled. Mirian's smile grew bigger, "Be happy, sister."
"And you," returned Selena as she walked away with the young Lord Bran.
Mirian watched as her sister danced with al of the young men in turn. She listened half-heartedly to the orchestra playing. Her fingers idly twirled a piece of hair between them.
"Why are you not dancing, daughter?" The Queen looked fondly at her daughter.
"I don't know Mother, I suppose I just don't feel like it." She gave a small smile to her mother.
"Ah, I see, no one has asked you to dance, have they?" The Queen smiled knowingly at her eldest daughter. She knew that Mirian had never been lacking in partners before this night.
"No," sighed Mirian, her grey eyes closing.
"My daughter, you must not always think of marriage and such things. It may consume you if you are not careful." The Queen patted her daughter's small, delicate hand. "Marriage is not everything. Think of how skilled you are with the needle, and how well you handle the horses that we have. Think of the garden that you and Selena grow. Is that not important as well?"
"Well, yes, I suppose so." The Princess cast her eyes down in shame.
"Mirian, love, there is nothing to be ashamed of. You have been reading too many of the romantic novels." Mirian blushed slightly, and Shari laughed. "Do those girls ever think of anything but marriage? No, they don't. They are not real, my daughter, they are fantasy. You are real. A good Queen thinks of her people."
"But I thought that a King did that." Mirian interjected.
"True, a King does too, but the Queen is his support, you must remember. Think on this: what would you think about after marriage? Mirian, use your skills, and develop them. Do not let them go to waste."
"Yes mother, I love you." The Princess looked into her mother's clear blue eyes, and she knew that her mother loved her too.
"Now, I must rip your father away from this envoy." Shari turned to her husband, "My love, dance with me."
The envoy grinned and waved the King away. Mirian looked over the envoy's shoulder and saw her brother slipping away in the direction of Lady Petra.
"Your highness, a word?" Mirian turned to the envoy.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I may have this dance," he said gallantly.
The Princess's cheeks were suffused with color, and she happily accepted his offer. They descended from the High Table regally.
He was resplendent in the red and blue of Lamar, she equally so in the lavender and black of Wythin.
They waltzed around the room, hand in hand. Eventually, the song came to an end and they wandered over to the table where refreshments were offered. Shyly, they talked together, while sipping wine out of ornate goblets.
"I wondered why you weren't married already, Princess." Mirian looked at him sharply.
"I have often wondered the same thing myself," She responded lightly. The envoy laughed.
They continued talking until the music stopped.
Selena smiled at her latest partner. She was enjoying the last vestiges of her freedom as an unmarried Princess. Her beautiful gown swirled around her ankles in an unexpected draft, tripping her. Her partner caught her easily, and set her on her feet again.
"Thank you," Selena was breathless from dancing, and her words came out breathily. Her partner smiled graciously and they started to resume dancing, but found that there was no music to dance to.
Michel smiled at Lady Petra. She was his friend since childhood. She understood him. They waltzed through the deserted gardens, straining to hear the faint music.
Without warning, Michel was supporting Petra's whole weight. He sagged, then straightened. He set her gently on a stone bench and checked her heartbeat. It was still there and strong. She wasn't dead, but she was unconscious. Michel stood and looked for the attacker. No one was to be seen.
There was only silence.
The King knew the exact moment the music stopped. He sighed. How ironic, he thought, that he would lose both daughters in such quick succession.
"What is going on?" Shari clung tighter to him. She was afraid, he could tell.
"Do not fear my love, all will be well in the end." He spoke comforting words as he stroked her golden hair. "Go collect Selena and the other Ladies and get to a private room. Make sure you are safe." The King pushed her away.
"No, please no," Shari clung to him, but he gently pushed her off.
"Go, my love, and Sky be with you."
"I love you always." Shari kissed him passionately and then raised an arm. "To me, my Ladies! To me!" The Ladies of the court obediently came to the Queen's call. She ushered them out of the great hall and into her own chambers.
"Why are we here?"
"What's going on?"
"Why did the music stop?"
"Where's Petra?"
"Where's Princess Mirian?"
The questions flew about the chamber. The last one sent Shari into motion.
"Selena, Mirian, please, come hither." Selena obediently came to the Queen's side, but Mirian was nowhere to be found. "Mirian!" Shari moaned, wide eyed, "Why are you not here?" Shari tried to leave the room, but two guards blocked her progress.
"No, my Queen, the King has ordered you not to leave this room. You will be safe here." Shari turned back into the room in defeat. She sat on her bed and wept.
---
---A/N--- This chapter was a bit longer, I think. Although it was a cliff ::snickers evilly:: I promise more will be up soon. I've been busy freezing myself at marching band.
---MapleRose-I made up Kalid-Na'in. Microsoft Word hates me now...but heehee:o)
---cherrychica-It's a loose sequel to Runner of Syrlan. Really loose. It's on the same continent as Syrlan, and it borders Syrlan. It's also set paralell to the end of it. That's about it. I'm working on Shadeth and her story.
I need a new title!!! Does anyone have a better idea? Suggestions!!!!! :o)
---EvenSong---